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Bay Area Arts and Entertainment BlogFri, 31 Jul 2015 15:11:55 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.3“The Tonight Show”: Conan O’Brien’s in the househttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/06/02/the-tonight-show-conan-obriens-in-the-house/
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/06/02/the-tonight-show-conan-obriens-in-the-house/#commentsTue, 02 Jun 2009 08:27:24 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/?p=14770So much for the widely held theory that Conan O’Brien would tone down his act as host of “The Tonight Show.” In kicking off his new gig on Monday night, the lanky redhead was as outrageously goofy and manic as… Continue Reading →

So much for the widely held theory that Conan O’Brien would tone down his act as host of “The Tonight Show.” In kicking off his new gig on Monday night, the lanky redhead was as outrageously goofy and manic as ever.

Jay Leno’s successor wasted no time in putting his unique stamp on one of television’s most storied franchises. The show opened with a hilarious film clip of O’Brien reviewing a “To-Do” check list for his new duties and realizing that he had forgotten to move from New York to Los Angeles. What followed was a frantic trek that had him running (and swimming) across the country — in suit and tie — past iconic sites such as Wrigley Field in Chicago, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the snow-capped Rocky Mountains and the Las Vegas strip.
Finally, our intrepid host arrived at his new home on the Universal Studios lot, only to realize he had left the keys to the soundstage back in New York.

Such pre-taped, on-location segments proved to be among O’Brien’s greatest strengths during his 17 years as host of “Late Night” and he made good use of them on Monday. One skit saw him commandeering a Universal Studios tram full of tourists and taking it into the streets of Hollywood, where he made a stop at a 99-cent store. Another had him tooling around town in his ’92 Ford Taurus and impressing everyone he came in contact with, including several hot babes (he made one pregnant just by looking at her) and even Fabio.

Whether the Leno fans will warm up to the new guy remains to be seen, but if Monday’s debut was any indication, the new “Tonight Show” will have considerably more zip and zaniness to it.

In his opening monologue, delivered from an airy and stylish new art-deco set, the self-deprecating O’Brien talked about how he had timed his job switch just perfectly.

“I’m on a last-place network, I moved to a state that’s bankrupt and ‘The Tonight Show’ is sponsored by General Motors,” he quipped.

Joining him in SoCal were his former sidekick Andy Richter, now serving as an Ed McMahon-like announcer behind a podium, and longtime bandleader, drummer Max Weinberg.

“It’s like a Backstreet Boys reunion here—only not as good,” he noted.

In taking over “The Tonight Show,” O’Brien joins an exclusive club that includes Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Johnny Carson and Leno.

“I remember watching Johnny Carson when I was a kid and thinking: That’s what I want to be when I grow up,” O’Brien said. “I’m sure right now in America there is likely a kid watching me, thinking: ‘What is wrong with that man’s hair?’”

Speaking of the hair, it was in fine form for opening night — standing upright and at attention.

Also in fine form was O’Brien’s first guest, comic actor Will Ferrell, who punctuated all the over-the-top absurdity by arriving in a sedan chair held aloft by four shirtless man servants.

“I wanted to come in low-key and under the radar,” Ferrell said.

The rock group Peral Jam also appeared as O’Brien’s first musical guest, but not before Ferrell contributed his own song — “Never Can Say Goodbye.”

O’Brien, appearing annoyed and bewildered, stopped Ferrell in mid-performance to remind him that “This is not a goodbye show!”

To which Ferrell replied, “Don’t get me wrong. I’m pulling for you, man. But this whole thing is a crapshoot at best.”

So what did you think of Conan’s debut? Are you a Leno fan who will have a hard time adapting? Or have you been supporting Conan all these years? And where does David Letterman fit into this equation?